Animated toy vehicle



Nov. 27, 1951 G. w. HARRIS 2,575,398.

ANIMATED TOY VEHICLE Filed June 7, 1950 WM5/V707?" GEO/@GAE W HARR/s I Ill Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNlTEo ANBVIATED TOY VEHICLE George W. Harris, Drain, Oreg., assignor of onehalf to John J. Konecny, vDrain, Oreg.

Application June 7, 195o, serial No. 166.599

This invention relates to improvementsin animated toys and more particularly to hobby horses of a size adapted to be ridden by children and to travel forwardly by forward and rearward rocking motion of the body of the rider of the hobby horse.

One of the principal objects' of the invention is the provision of a toy of this character which is of simple, efficient, durable and inexpensive construction and which will simulate the action of a galloping horse as well as the sound of hoof beats thereof.

These and other objects will appear as my invention is more fully hereinafter described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the toy in a starting position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the body of the toy tilted rearwardly by the weight of the operator upon the seat to swing the forward legs of the toy forwardly.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 2 showing the toy in an advanced position wherein the front leg has returned to the ground and the rear leg is free to swing forwardly.

Figure 4 is a view identical with Figure 1 showing the toy back in a starting position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional end elevation taken approximately along the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional end elevation taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end elevation taken approximately along the line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing:

In Figure 1 reference numeral I indicates the body of the horse which is made up of two panels 2 and 3 held apart in spaced relation to each other by attachment, by means of screws 4 or the like, to a central spacing element in the form of a single panel designed to represent the head, neck and front legs of a horse as generally indicated at 5. A second spacer block 9 is interposed between the rearward ends of the body member and secured thereto by means of screws 1. The forward end of the spacer block 6 is cut on an angle as indicated at 8 to form a limit stop for the rearward movement of the rear legs 9 of the horse. The upper end of the rear leg is pivotally attached to the body member near the upper edge thereof by means of a pin or shaft l0 about which 1 Claim. (Cl. 28B-1.175)

the rear leg 9 is swingably attached for forward or rearward movement with respect to the body I. The pivot shaft I9 should be located forward of the center of a seat I I secured to the top edge of the body member. The rearward swing of the leg 9 is limited by the angular surface 8 of the spacer block 6.

The bottom end of each front and rear leg 5 and 9 is provided with a base generally indicated at I2 and I3 respectively and as best illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, each base is made up of a horizontal block I4 transversely bored to receive a shaft I5 which is xedly secured by means of a pin I6 to its respective leg. To each side of the block I4 I secure plates I1 and I8 which are of greater height than the thickness of the block and which serve to maintain the shaft I5 within the block I4. The plates I1 and I8 of the forward base are tapered rearwardly and the corresponding plates in the rear leg are tapered forwardly as best illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inelusive.

It is to be understood that both bases are xedly secured to the legs of the toy and that they do not rotate about the shafts I5. The body member I and the head, neck and front leg portion of the toy constitute one part and the rear leg 9 and its integral base I3 constitute another part which is swingably mounted to the body member as aforesaid. The forward end of the body of the toy may be swung from the starting position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2 by the operator leaning rearwardly upon the seat II by reason of the fact that the body member is pivoted about the pivot point I0. This rearward body movement of the operator will elevate the forward portion of the body member I as well as the neck, leg portion and block I2 thereof suii'ciently so that the front leg and its base may be moved forwardly by the operator now leaning or rocking in a forward direction about the pivot point Il! which will lower the forward end of the body member causing a return of the front base I2 into contact with the ground. Then upon further forward movement of the body of the user the front base will assume the position shown in Figures 1 and 4 which will enable the rear leg 9 and its base I3 to swing forward into the starting position as shown in said Figures 1 and 4.

For the convenience of the operator in executing the forward and rearward rocking motions of his body, I provide a handle bar I9 extending through and secured to the head of the horse as illustrated in Figures 3 and 7.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patentis:

An animated toy of the character described comprising a body member made up of two spaced apart vertical panels, the rearward end of said panels being held in spaced relation to each other neck and head portion, said leg, neck Iand head portion being xedly secured to said body `membases are separated to their limit during operaber, a rear leg pivotally attached to said body Y tion.

GEORGE W. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record 1n the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland Apr. y1, 193A0 

